Attachment for rulers



June 5, 1940- J. 3. DULCZEWSKI ATTACHMENT FOR RULERS Filed Dec. 31, 1937 Patented June 25, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE John S. Dulczewski, Amsterdam, N. Y. Application December 31, 1937, Serial No. 182,902

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a mitering device constituting an attachment for a ruler of the folding type, and it is one object of the invention to provide a mitering device of such construction that it may be applied to one of the sections of a folding ruler and folded therewith in the same manner that all of the sections of the ruler are folded. It will thus be seen that, when the mitering device is not in use, it may be folded and disposed in such relation to the rest of the ruler that the ruler may be used in the usual manner.

I Another object of the invention is to provide a mitering device including arms carried by one of the sections of the ruler and a diagonally extending brace which is foldable in order that the brace may be disposed between the arms of the mitering device when an arm which extends laterally of a second arm when in an extended position for use is turned about its pivot to a folded position in superimposed parallel relation to the other arm of the mitering device.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the mitering device that it may be very easily applied to an end section of a folding ruler of a conventional construction and thus make it unnecessary to provide a special construction in the ruler in order to apply the mitering device to it.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing the mitering device applied to a ruler and in position for use, dotted lines in this figure illustrating the manner in which the mitering device is folded,

Figure 2 is a View looking atthe mitering device and a portion of the ruler from one side with the mitering device in its folded position, portions being shown in section,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of Figure 1,

I Figure 5 is a fragmentary view illustrating a modified embodiment of the invention,

Figure 6 is a section taken along the line 66 of Figure 5, and

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken along the line 1-1 of Figure 5.

The ruler to which the mitering device is applied is a folding ruler of a conventional construction consisting of a number of sections I which are pivotally connected with each other by pins 2 in order that thesections may be turned about the pins from a folded position to an ex tended position for use. This mitering device consists of companion arms 3 and 4 which are formed of sheet metal. Side edge portions of the blanks from which the arms are formed are bent to provide side flanges 5 and 6, and upon referring to Figures 3 and 4, it will be seen that the flanges 5 of the arm 3 extend at right angles thereto in order to fit flat against side edge faces of the sections of the ruler, whereas the flanges 6 of the arm 4 extend from this arm in converging relation to each other in order that an insert or ruler 1, corresponding in length to the arm 4, may be carried by this arm and mounted for longitudinal sliding movement from a retracted position in which its ends terminate flush with ends of the arm to an extended position for use when found necessary. The inner end portion of the arm 4 is bent upwardly to provide an end flange 8 for limiting inward movement of the insert and an opening9 is formed near the inner end of-the insert to receive the head of the pin 2 when the insert is in its retracted position.

When the mitering device is applied to the ruler, the section 3 of the mitering device is slid into engagement with the end section I of the ruler or merely applied thereto in position to dispose the armagainst the ruler section with the flanges 5 in engagement with side edge faces of the ruler section. Inner and outer end portions of the arm 3 arebent to form end flanges or tongues Ill and H which mayextend the full width of the arm or for only a portion of its width and engage ends of the ruler section to prevent the arm from sliding longitudinally of the ruler section and also provide smooth ends for the arm. In view of the fact that the end flanges or tongues prevent the arm from shifting longitudinally of the ruler section, strain will be removed from the pin 2 which pivotally connects the arm 4 with the arm 3 and pivotally connects the ruler section to which the arm 3 is applied to the next ruler section. It will be understood that in applying the device to a sectional ruler, one of the original pivot pins connecting the ruler sections will be removed and the longer pin 2 used in place thereof to accommodate the thickness I of the material at the connected ends of the arms '3 and 4. Referring to Figures 1 and 2 and particularly Figure 2, -it will be seen that the inner end portions of the two arms are offset towards each other. as shown at l2 and I3, thus providing portions which will maintain the two arms in spaced relation to each other for the remainder of their length and provide space to receive the sections M of a brace I5 when the brace and the arm 4 are in a folded position. The sections l4 from which the brace is formed are of thin resilient sheet metal and have their inner ends pivoted to each other by a pin l5 and their outer .ends pivoted to outer ends of the arms 3 and 4 by pins H. The overlapped and pivotally connected inner ends of the sections I4 are stamped to provide cooperating latching members l8 serving to releasably hold the two sections of the brace in either an extended position, as shown in full lines in Figure 1, or a folded position shown in Figure 2.

When this mitering device is in use, it is applied to an end section of a folding ruler of a conventional construction and may be disposed in either a folded condition as shown in Figure 2. or the arm 4 swung about the pivot pin 2 to an extended position in which it projects laterally from the arm 3. When the arm 4 is in its folded" position, it extends longitudinally of the end section of the ruler in parallel relation thereto and since the insert 7 will have its exposed face provided with inch markings, the ruler may still be used for measuring purposes without the inconvenience of having the inch markings of one end section concealed. When the arm 4 is turned to the extended position, the sections of the brace will be carried outwardly withit Lmtil they are disposed in longitudinal alinement with each other. The brace will thus extend diagonally between the arms and maintain the arms at right angles to each other with the brace extending at an angle of 45 to the two arms. In view of the fact that the latch members I8 of the two sections I 4 of the brace must be snapped into and out of engagement with each other, these members can.- not accidentally move out of alinement with each other when the arm 4 is in the extended position and accidental movement of the arm from a position at right angles to the arm 3 will be prevented. The latch members will also retain the arm 4 in the folded position when the mitering device is not in use.

In Figures 5, 6 and '7, there has been illustrated a modified construction. In this embodiment of the invention, the arm or section [9 which takes the place of the arm 3 is formed of sheet metal bent to provide a trough-shaped member into which the end section I of the foldable ruler fits and tongues 26 are carried by the arm or section IQ for engaging the section I of the ruler and preventing the arm l9 from sliding longitudinally out of place. In order to anchor the section 18, its side flanges or walls are punched inwardly to provide teeth or lugs 22 which bite into side edge faces of the ruler section. The arm or section 23 is pivotally connected with the section 19 by a rivet or equivalent pivot pin 24 corresponding to the pin 2. This arm 23 is also formed of sheet metal and has its inner end formed with an abutment tongue 25 and its outer end pivoted to a link 26 corresponding to one of the links I4. Side walls or flanges 21 have portions punched inwardly to provide lugs 28 for overlapping opposite side edges of a metal insert or ruler 29 which takes the place of the ruler I. This ruler 29 is formed of thin metal and is curved transversely, as shown in Figure 7, in order that its marginal portions may engage under the lugs 28. It will thus be seen that the ruler will be prevented from dropping out of the arm 23 but, when its finger-hold 30 at its outer end is grasped, it may be easily drawn outwardly. It will thus be seen that in this embodiment of the invention elements corresponding to those of the form previously described have been provided but they are of a somewhat difierent specific construction.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A mitering device comprising companion arms, a pin pivotally connecting inner end portions of said arms, one arm having flanges along its sides for engaging side edges of a ruler section and preventing transverse movement of the arm relative to the ruler section, the said arm being provided with members at its ends for engaging ends of the ruler section and preventing shifting of the arm longitudinally upon the ruler section, inner end portions of the arms being offset towards each other to provide space between the arms for the remainder of their lengths, and a brace for releasably maintaining the second arm in an extended position when swung from a position longitudinally of the first arm to a position transversely of the first arm, said brace consisting of strips having their outer ends pivoted to outer end portions of the two arms and their inner end portions pivoted to each other, the said strips being of a thickness adapting them to be disposed between the arms when the arms and brace are folded.

2. The combination with a ruler, of a mitering attachment therefor comprising spaced companion arms pivotally mounted on the ruler and pivotally connected with each other, and a brace consisting of companion strips having their inner portions pivoted to each other and their outer ends pivoted to outer ends of said companion arms, the brace being disposed diagonally between the arms when one arm is disposed transversely of the other arm in an extended position for use and being disposed between the arms longitudinally thereof when one arm is moved about its pivot to a folded position longitudinally of the other arm.

3. A mitering device for attachment to a ruler comprising companion arms having their inner ends pivotally connected, one arm being disposed longitudinally of the ruler against a side face thereof and held against movement relative thereto and the second arm being movable from a retracted position in longitudinal parallel relation to the first arm to an extended position transversely of the first arm, said arms having their pivotally connected end portions provided with offset inner ends to maintain the arms in spaced relation to each other for the remainder of their length when the-second arm is disposed parallel to the first arm, and a brace for releasably holding the second arm in its extended position transversely of the first arm, said brace consisting of companion strips pivotedat their outer ends to the outer ends of said arms and having their inner end portions pivotally connected with each other, the brace having its strips disposed parallel to each other in the space between the arms when the second arm is disposed in its folded position parallel to the first arm.

4. A mitering device for attachment to a ruler comprising companion arms having their inner ends pivotally connected, one arm being disposed longitudinally of the ruler and having side flanges engaging side edges of the ruler to hold the arm against movement relative thereto, the other arm being movable about its pivot from a folded position longitudinally of the first arm to an extended position in which it projects laterally from one side of the first arm, and a folding brace pivotally connected with said arms for limiting swinging movement of the second arm towards its extended position transversely of the first arm.

JOHN S. DULCZEWSKI. 

